By Jeremy Sollars
Scott Morrison has won the leadership contest and will become the next prime minister of Australia.
He attracted 45 votes to Peter Dutton’s 40 after Julie Bishop was knocked out in the first round of voting at today’s Liberal Party room meeting.
A “shattered” Malcolm Turnbull will now resign from parliament and leave politics altogether.
Mr Morrison’s election brings to an end a week of political chaos in which Australians have grown ever-more angry at the conduct of our political leaders.
He becomes the sixth Prime Minister in 11 years, after most recently serving as Treasurer. His deputy will be Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg who won the vote by an absolute majority.
Ms Bishop and Mr Morrison spent the past 24 hours hitting the phones to gather the support needed to pip Mr Dutton at the finish line.
Challenger Peter Dutton hoped he had the numbers to pull off the move he attempted earlier this week, today getting the 43 signatures he needed to force Mr Turnbull to call the meeting.
But those who signed the document clearly sent their votes elsewhere in the secret ballot.
Christine Forster, City of Sydney councillor and Tony Abbott’s sister, has confirmed to national media that she is considering running in Wentworth after Malcolm Turnbull vacates the seat.
